UPDATE: Miss Las Cruces resigns after crash, DWI charge

LAS CRUCES — Three days after police say she drove drunk and crashed into a power pole, Miss Las Cruces has resigned her title.

Sarah J. Richardson, 22, was charged with aggravated DWI on Sunday after she reportedly knocked down a pole near Avenida de Mesilla and Hickory Drive, which damaged other cars and caused a power outage, affecting an estimated 1,700 customers.

A news release sent by a pageant official Wednesday confirmed the resignation.

"My actions are not congruous with the actions of a Miss America candidate, and I realize that at this time I must step back and reflect, prioritize my life and accept the consequences," Richardson said in a prepared statement. "I am very sincerely sorry for those that I have let down in this incident."

She will represent Las Cruces at the Miss New Mexico pageant in June, where the newly crowned Miss New Mexico will win a $12,000 cash scholarship.

Aleiha DiRenzo, a Miss Las Cruces spokeswoman, said this is first time a Miss Las Cruces has resigned her title.

According to Las Cruces Police Department reports, Richardson crashed shortly before 10 p.m. Just after 11 p.m., a breathalyzer determined Richardson's blood-alcohol concentration to be .16 — twice the legal limit. That's the factor that raised her charge to aggravated DWI.

She reportedly admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel of her Chrysler P.T. Cruiser.

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Richardson, who is 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds according to police, told the officer she had two drinks — a 12-ounce beer and 12-ounce margarita.

The officer wrote that Richardson had a "strong odor of alcohol ... slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes." He noted that she failed several field sobriety tests.

Aside from relinquishing her Miss Las Cruces title, Richardson also likely faces a 60-day revocation of her license, as typical in DWI cases.

The driver of a car that dragged wires after Richardson hit the pole was arrested for driving with a suspended license, according to the police report.

Teresa Souza, a spokeswoman for El Paso Electric, said the company "does bill those who are responsible for bringing down power poles and damaging equipment." She added that a simple crash could cost thousands of dollars.

Wrote Souza in an email: "The costs may vary but include the cost of the pole (transmission poles are more expensive than distribution poles), the cost of equipment that needs to be replaced (wires, transformers, fuses, etc), labor costs to replace and repair the damage (these costs vary depending on whether overtime has to be paid, etc)."

Souza said those charges likely would go to Richardson's insurance carrier. The police report said she did have liability insurance.

City officials could not be reached Wednesday to address the damages to city property — the accident report said the power pole hit a traffic signal.

Richardson did not return a phone message left Wednesday by the Sun-News.

The Miss Las Cruces news release added that Richardson, from Alamogordo, has been a "dedicated community servant," working with adoption and children's organizations.

"It is the wish of the Miss Las Cruces Organization that Richardson be remembered for her service, and not be defined solely by the events of (Sunday)," the release said.

James Staley may be reached at 575-541-5476. Follow him on Twitter @auguststaley